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After hearing that weldbond could be used as a sealant I decided to try it out on a piece of wood that I was planning to put in my Whites tree frog Vivarium. I followed the directions and put several coats of 5 parts water/1 part weldbond on the piece of wood. To be sure that the end grain portions of the wood were sealed I put an additional coat or two of 2.5 parts water/1 part weldbond on the end grain sections. After a week or so of being in contact with the moist soil floor of the vivarium I noticed that water had began to soak and discolor the wood where the 5 to 1 mixture had been applied, but not where the 2.5 to 1 mixture was. I removed the piece of wood, dried it, and recoated the whole piece a few times with a stronger mixture (2.5-1 or 2-1). I then painted on some clear aquarium sealant to the parts of the wood that will come into contact with the damp soil. Hopefully this will fully seal the wood.

BOTTOM LINE: If you want to use weldbond as a sealant, use a much stronger mixture than weldbond recommends. It will dry clear and only leave a slight gloss on the wood. The only way you can tell that the weldbond is there is under bright light, when you are looking for it.

When you say you dried the wood, you a)air dried it for x length of time or b) you dried it in an oven at 200 degrees plus or minus a few degrees for x length of time (kiln dried)? Did you read my post on this subject the last time you posted? I'LL BET you closed moisture in the wood under your sealant. You are better off using a larger ratio of water to sealant with several coats, the idea is to let the wood drink the solution!

Dried as in put under 100 watt heat lamp for a few days. Only 2 patches of about 5 sq inches were affected by moisture. I missed your post, but just now read it. The first 5 or so coats I put on last week were very thin, so hopefully the wood absorbed the sealer then, and the coats I put on these last few days will act as the thicker finishing coat. If I did seal water into the wood and it eventually rots, there are always other pieces of wood.

Exactly, you are slowing it down. If you decide you want to take the "sheen" off the finish, you can lightly rub it with steel wool, use a fine sand paper (600 grit) or use a "scuffy pad"a 3M product I think) I use them but don't pay attention to manufacture. Be careful not to go through the sealant. I prefer sand paper as steel wool can lodge into crevices, etc. and the frogs don't need that.
Your project is looking good, keep the pics. coming.

Thanks.

Well I put the log back into the vivarium and misted the whole tank. To my dismay I noticed that the weldbond had re-hydrated its self and turned white again. I know it was fully cured because it has been drying for 2 days now. Anybody have any suggestions? Do you people who use weldbond for backgrounds have a problem with it re-hydrating?